NBC News confers with neuroblastoma microbiome expert at Memorial Sloan-Kettering

HIS CANCER TREATMENT WAS FAILING. A FECAL TRANSPLANT TURNED IT AROUND.

NBC News recently highlighted gut microbiome research as the new frontier of cancer medicine. The implications are massive—this could be a paradigm shift in the fight against cancer. And you have had a part in this major development for children.

Understanding the Gut Microbiome's Role

The human body contains approximately 37.2 trillion cells and around 100 trillion microbes in the gut. These microbes influence nearly every part of the human body, playing crucial roles in health, disease, and, most significantly, the immune system. This research is answering the age-old question: why do some treatments work for some patients but not for all? The answer is becoming clear. The researchers highlighted in this NBC article include MD Anderson and Memorial Sloan Kettering doctors whose cutting-edge research our donors have been supporting.

Breakthrough Case Study: Tim's Story

The NBC News story features Tim Story, a 49-year-old high school football coach from Hattiesburg, Mississippi. His journey began with mysterious side pains that were later diagnosed as intestinal tumors. After surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy failed, he was preparing to say goodbye to his wife, family, and life. At this critical moment, doctors from MD Anderson offered him an experimental treatment: a fecal transplant from a patient whose advanced cancer had been entirely cured by immunotherapy combined with a fecal transplant using PD-1 inhibitors. The theory was that the donor’s unique gut bacteria might help jumpstart Story’s immune system to recognize better and fight cancer. While not all trial participants were successful, this approach saved Story’s life. Like new treatments, dosage, timing, and other variables must be researched to make the treatment more effective.

The Science Behind PD-1 Inhibitors

MD Anderson’s approach to curing Mr. Story utilized PD-1 inhibitors. PD-1 inhibitors block deceptive signals from cancer cells to T-cells (which generally kill cancer cells). These signals trick T-cells into ignoring the cancer. Dr. James Allison of MD Anderson, who received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for this work, discovered that antibodies could block these signals, allowing T-cells to recognize and destroy cancer cells effectively. These approaches leverage the immune system to fight different cancers, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of the immune system’s response to these treatment methods. PD-1 inhibitors also extended President Carter’s life by several years. The beauty of these approaches is that they increase the probability of avoiding conventional treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery.

Pioneering Work in Pediatric Cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering

While other centers are developing this approach for adults, Memorial Sloan-Kettering is leading this research for pediatric patients as well. With our donors help, we supported the development of a bivalent vaccine that has reduced the relapse rate for a certain group of children by 50% which was and still is headed by Dr Brian Kushner. The team at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, headed by our medical advisory board member Dr. Shakeel Modak and Dr. Oriana Miltiadous, investigated why some children respond well to the vaccine while others don’t.

NBC News interviewed Dr. Oriana Miltiadous, whose work our donors have supported. Dr. Miltiadous has identified two bacteria in children’s guts linked to better vaccine outcomes and is now determining how to transfer these microbes to children who lack them. One approach involves freeze-drying stool containing these microbes and placing them in capsules for transplantation.

The Impact of Our Donors Support

Our donor support has advanced pediatric cancer research to the leading edge of medical innovation. Drs. Shakeel Modak and Oriana Miltiadous are now developing ways of delivering beneficial bacteria to children who could benefit from this groundbreaking treatment—a promising new frontier in pediatric cancer care.

Your support has truly made a difference.

With warmest regards,

Frank Kalman
Director, End Kids Cancer
Phone: 805-550-7682
Email: frank@endkidscancer.org